An Architecture Fan’s London Bucket List

Impressive and progressive, the buildings that grace the streets of London are an architectural lover’s dream.

Featuring properties from various points in history and in plenty of architectural styles, we’ve created a London bucket list for those staying at our London boutique hotels. This is our shortlist for those who want to see the standout buildings that have stood the test of time over generation and now enjoy their status as important landmarks in the world of building design.

The Great Court of the British Museum

The British Museum is a great tourist attraction for visitors staying at our London Boutique hotels, but if you want to see some impressive engineering and architecture, you won’t want to miss out on a visit to the Great Court.

With sweeping steel and glass panels creating the ceiling and surrounding a cylindrical centre building with steps, you can’t help but be impressed by this inspiring and light space created by Foster & Partners.

To reach the British Museum from our London boutique hotels, head to Holborn station via Tube and the museum is just a few minutes’ walk away.

Tate Modern

Visible from the river, the Tate Modern building is a piece of art in itself. A former power station building, the Tate Modern decided to call this imposing brick structure home thanks to its twisted pyramid-like structure, glass extension and switch house that increased the internal space significantly.

To get a real appreciation for the architectural prowess of the building, you’ll need to head inside. This is a real treat as you’ll also be able to appreciate the scale of the renovation works and browse the best contemporary artworks too, so make sure you schedule at least four hours to thoroughly investigate this iconic London landmark.

If all that art has given you an appetite, why not head to Hankies Montcalm to enjoy another impressive space and a delicious menu to suit all tastes?

The Shard

No lover of modern architecture visiting the city should return home after a stay at our 5-star hotels London without making a trip to visit The Shard.

Completed in 2012, the tripod-shaped, glass-clad building is each reached from our London boutique hotels, so just head to London Bridge Tube station to take a closer look for yourself.

Visible from all over the city, The Shard is a great place to enjoy the sunset over the city’s impressive skyline, so make a reservation at Hankies Montcalm for dinner before heading over to The Shard just before sunset. We suggest making a beeline for the building’s four-storey observatory deck on floors 68 – 72 for the best views.

With panoramic views all over the city, you’ll want to spend at least an hour taking in the views over London from this world-famous building. Make sure you leave yourself plenty of time after dinner to fully appreciate the splendour of the London skyline.